Setwork



ll- I- I.

LESTER J. PETERS ATTORNEY Aug- 8, 1950 l.. J. PETERS 2,518,369

sE'rwoax Filed Nov. 12, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z INVENTOR. LESTER .J..PETERS g, 4L, @law ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1950- SE'IWORK Lester J.Peters, Portland, Greg.; Dora H. Peters executrix of `said Lester J.Peters, deceased Application November 12, 1.946, serial No. mazen ilclaims (ci. 143-120) l The present invention relates to setworks forindicating and predetermining the relative angular movement of anoperating shaft. While the 'invention is not necessarily to be limitedto such specific application, it is particularly adaptable vfor use inconnection with sawmill carriage corif trol.

`succeeding operating cycle. The adjustment may be effected either by"moving the `work piece toward rthe toolor by moving the tool toward thework piece, Vwhiclnev'er may be most convenient. Under certainconditions, such as when the part to be adjusted is relatively massive,a power drive is provided which introduces a problem of control in orderto insure accuracy of adjustment. The power drive will usually consistessentially of motor means connected to an operating shaft eitherthrough a fast coupling or a clutch. The problem of control, therefore,entails the deen'ergization or declutching of the motor means 'and thearresting of the motion of the operating shaft in a predeterminedangular position.

It is a general object of the invention, therefore, to provide a new andimproved setworks for indicating and predetermining the relative angularposition of a driven operating shaft.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improvedsetworks for facilitating accurate control of adjustment effectedthrough a power drive connection between a Work piece holder and a tool.y

Considering a specic application, for example, the sawing of lumber inwhich the work piece, in this instance, is a log and which is supportedupon a carriage arranged cooperatively adjacent the tool, in this case,a saw, i `The carriage is so constructed and arranged that after eachsuccessive sawing operation the log is shifted toward the `saw by adistance corresponding to the thickness desired for the next cut.Because of vthe greatA size and, weight of the log and carriagemechanism,- a power drive usually is provided for eiecting the shiftingmovements, while the movements are controlled through means including asetworks. Since commercial lumber thicknesses are standardized, it isdesirable that the increments of advancing movements of the log or canttoward the saw be ac curately controlled in order to effect a maximumfootage from the log. The setworks now in com-Y mon use throughout thelumber industry leave much to be desired in this respect. Due toinherent inaccuracies in the conventional setworks, the variationbetween the set and the cut frequently runs as high as three-sixteenthsto oneiquarter of an inch.. In order to insure that the boards will beof a thickness sufficient to dress to standard dimension, it is a usualpractice to run the set high, that is, to intentionally cut the boardsconsiderably thicker than necessary in order to compensate for themaximum Aof the range of inaccuracyV of the setworks. In cuttingfourequarter stock, for example, it will be obvious that this practiceresults in a substantial loss invfootage `as compared with what might beobtained if the boards are cut more accurately to the requiredthickness.` Y

It is another object of the invention, therefore, to provide a new andimproved setworks f or sawmill carriages of the type having va Vpowerdrive for effecting' adjusting movements of a log` supported thereon. lY

A more speciiic lobject of the invention is to provide a new andimproved setworks for sawmill carriages whereby the increments offorward movement of the log on the carriage may accurately beVcontrolled in accordance with a predetermined setting of the mechanism.

Anotherobject ofthe invention is to provide a new and improved setworksfor sawmill carriages which is so constructed and arranged whereby theoperator may `effect adjustment of the carriage for any predeterminedthickness of cutting with a minimum of `effort and time.

`A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedsetworks mechanism which is of a simple compact design and which mayreadily -be installed asa unit in asawmll carriage of conventionaltypes.

A further object of the invention is to Iprovide an improvement upon thestructure disclosed illustrating a setworks of the present inventioninstalled thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the control towerincluded in the set- Works of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a partial View of a portion of the control tower takensubstantially along line 4 1?. of Fig. 3;

Fig.- 5 is a view of portions of the control and indicator dials in adifferent position of use than that illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially alongline Geli of Fig. 2 and illustrating the operation of the clutch lever.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is disclosed a portion of the framework of asawmill including posts IQ and AI l, the longitudinal frame i 2 andstruts i3 upon-which are-mounted a carriageway including 'longitudinal'beams i4 and I5 and cross membersA i6.V VMounted within the frame are'carriage- 'propelling means vsymbolized by pulley I'i and cablev i8,the cable' being attached (not shown) to" a carriage generally indicatedby the numeral 2l`v`vhichV is adapted to be propelled longitudinallycithe'frame. The carriage comprises wheelsV 2| l and22'w-hich engagerails 23 and 2li, respectively,

finounted upon the longitudinal beams vlli and *i 5'resp'ecrtively.- Thewheels are rotatably mounted v'uponthe carriage which includes crossmemberslnpon which are mounted a plurality of knees 21 capable ofmovement transversely`t0` "the longitudinal axis of the carriage. Theknees vcomprisework-engaging means adapted to abut against the rearsurface of a, workpiece such as a log 28', supportedupon the carriageand mov-` r ablewthereby longitudinally/"1withy respect to VHworkingVtool such as a saw, indicated at 29. The "work-engaging means may alsocomprise a, dog 3i; or a plurality thereof, adapted to'be operated vby alever 32 to'hold the log against the faces?.

The knees are connected for si-HY of the knees. multafl'eoustransverse-movement by means including' a shaft 33 extending betweenthecross members 26. lUp to this point a sawmill is so conventional thatfurther details of the appara- Y tus are believed unnecessary .for a,complete understanding of the invention. Details of means "forinterconnecting a driving motor or other mftivemeans with the knees areillustrated in my above mentioned patent, as well as an operative,circuit for controlling the motor which moves y"the knees. Y Y

we The'irnproyement comprising myrppresent int'on"comprises the controltower, generally inf icatedfat 40, which includes a standard 4i and a.di is preferably mounteda, sprocket chain 43 extendingnabouta sprocketgear'le onthe shaft 33 n d" sprocket gear 45 mountedwithin the dialg,42. "trated hereinand its .mounting may; comprise tensioning membersand the like such as are illns'trated in myabove .mentioned patent. `Itis jsufcientmfor the purpose'of the present invenj tion` to statethatfthe knees 2, comprising workengaging surfaces, are interconnectedwith the l, sprocket 45 .for simultaneous movement, the sprocketll being`rotated an.angular distance corresponding to the linear di tancetransversely ..01" the carriagepof the faces "of "the knees., from"adjacent face o'f the saw.

The housing 42 comprises a cylindrical drum lfhousinggli. Within the'standardgdi there' rEhe chain isschematically illushaving openingstherethrough (not shown) through which the chain 43 may pass, av rearwall 4B and a translucent face plate 49 which may be formed of glass ofsuincient thickness to be very rigid and resistant to stresses. Anintermediate plate 56 within the drum is provided ,with a `forwardlyprojecting journal, 5I within which is preferably mounted alspac'ed;pair of 'ball' bearing assmbliesband'. v Juri'ialed for l0 rotationwithin the ball bearing assemblies is a hollow spindle 55 which at itsinner end is fastened to the sprocket gear 45h37 means of a iiangedmember 55 and screws 5i, the iianged member being fastened to thespindle 55 through the medium of a plurality of set screws 58 providedfor the purpose of obtaining concentricity. The yforward end of spindle55 is provided with an annular shoulder Ei thrusting against the bearingassembly 53, and endwiseV play of the spindlefis preventedby the flangedmember 56 lwhichthrusts against the bearing assembly 52, The annularflange Si is welded or otherwise suitablysecured to a disc 62 whichcarries atits Louter [periphery an annularv indicator dial 63 whichHVmay be fastened thereto ybyV means ...of .screws (not shown) or by othersuitable securing means. The outer periphery of theY annular dial e(i3-"carries arim 64v provided for stiiening purposes.I Y YConcentrically mounted for rotation within the spindle 55 .is a. shaftiii which extends beyond ,each .end of the spindle and is supportedtherein Yby suitable means, such as bronze bushings .1.lf.,and 72.V .Theinnerend of the shaft il@ passes Vthrough aQthrust-bearing assembly 'i3'adapted .to bear againstthe inner end of the spindle 55 fand-'to providea non-rotative seat for one endof `aspring 14, compressed thereagainst.by the hub 15 of `an arm 16 fixed to the shaft 'le for rotationtherewith. The vend of the` Shaft is preferably square in cross sectionand a similarly configured opening is provided in the hub l5. Retainingffmeans such as the locking ring 'i1 and lock bolt 1870i any `suitablenature may be provided.

. "Theforward end ofthe shaft 'ill is enlarged t0 provide a shoulder 80,and an annular member 3l Imay be welded thereto toprovide an enlargementof th'egshoulder.V A disc-like control dial 32 is f fastened tothemember 3| by screws (not shown) orrother suitable means. A Yfrictiondisc 83 is mounted Y,between the juxtaposed surfaces ofthe member'iS-Zand the disc 82 and may be adhered "to one or'the other of thosemembers, whereby 'fth'eeompression of the spring M normally causesfcl'utch'ing engagement'of the control dial with the indicator dial'. Y

The translucent face plate 49 is mounted at the forward end Vofthe drum42, preferably seating (gojagainst'a' iia'nge 85 welded to'the innersurface j of tli'edrum and having a forward facing 86 of 4felt or'oth'ersuitable cushioning material. The opposite faceofthe periphery of theface plate 'isv engagedbythe overhan'gingV lip `8l! of a ring 05 set'into a recess 89 inA theouter surface of the fcrin aridretained thereonbyga. phuauty or tous g'threaded'into threaded Yopenings in the flangemember 85. The face plate is provided with a central op'eningf ofsufficient diameter freely toY admit passage therethrough of the forwardend'of the shaft 10 and a centrally apertured disc 96 is slipped over.the end of the shaft and may be adhered to the face plate 49 or freelyslip with respect thereto.V The extreme outer @11d Of the Shaft Sencircled by an annular fulc'um ring 91 which is` kyedthereto by a key93' so that rotation ofthe shaft causes rotation of the ring 91. The endof the shaft is slotted to provide eers mo between which is pivotauy'mounted a clutch lever IBI by' means of a pivot pin |02 which may belocked in position by a cutter pin (not shown) or other suitable means.The' inner end of the V,control lever IIII rests upon and retains thekey 98 in position. Near its inner end and a short distance from theaxis of pivot member |02 the lever is provided with a thrust point,preferably 4corrrprising a set screw |53 which may be locked in adjustedposition by a setsc're'w M14, the inner end of screw |03 being solocated `as to bear against the outery face of the :Fulcrum ring 91. Thesurface of the bottom of the slot betweenears do slopes toward thefuloru'm point, as indicated m5, so that shiftingu movement ofthe leverIDI toward the control dials may allow outward movement of the shaft 1Uto the extent permitted by the undercut portion. Such outward movementof thev shaft is in an unclutching direction, a very slight movenientbeing sunicient to relieve pressure from the friction dise 83 topermitlrelative rotation of the dials 63 and 82. The outer end of thelever IGI is bent forward to' provide a forwardly projecting portionupon which is rotatively xed an operating handle I Il! by means of whichthe lever and all parts attached thereto may be rotated when the' handleis pressed toward the drum'. l The surface of the lever ||l| adjacentthe ring 88 is preferably provided with a lug I adapted to engage in anyone of a seriesof notches ||2 provided in the outwardly extendingperiphery of the ring B3. Eaoh ofthe notches preferably comprises a lessprecipitous wall H3 than the opposed wall IM, the walls ||3 being thosewalls on the sides ofthe notches in counterclockwfise direction tolwardan index pointer ||'5, which is preferably locatedat the top of thecontrol drum.l The index pointer may comprise a pointed member passingthrough an opening H6 in the wall of the drum #2 and having aloop ||1 atits outer end adapted to' be retained in position by a screw H8.

When the control lever is shifted inwardly a slight amount the `controldial is free to rotate with the control lever and the operator maythereupon rotate the control dial an angular amount as desiredthroughout an arc of 360. Such rotation of the control lever will causeindicia I2?! upon the face of the control dial to move past the tip ofthe pointer ||5,. By rotating` the clutch lever in a clockwisedirection, the indicia will be rotated past the index pointer inascending order. `As soon asy the operator observes the' desired numeralapproaching the tip of the index pointer v||v5 he may give an extra pushagainst the knob' IID suilicient tovurge the mfgl I n into engagementwith the rim of the nog 88 or the sides of a notch I2. As soon as thelug engages the steep' side Ill of the notch ||2 the lever will behalted, thus arresting the control dial at the preselected position.When the operreleases knob IIU the lever will springy outwardly toolutch-engagingposition and the controldial a`2`wi11 be clutched to theindicator cial s3.

o The arm 16 mounted upon shaft 'I0 is provided at its free end with ashoe `|25 of such shape as to engage a roller |26, carriedby adownwardly projecting` arm |21 of a switch-operating shaft |28 extendingfrom a switch box |29. Such engagement will occur as the'` control leverIUI and the switch actuating arm" 16 approaoh the index est. point inalignment with the index pointer H5; and the parts are so correlatedthat switch open ing action will occur when the lever is exactlyopposite the index point. Details of such a switch mechanism and theadjustments thereof are so' common in the arts that completeillustration thereof is thought to be unnecessary. K

` It is to be noted that in the preferred embodiment herein illustratedthe control dial 82 is provided with indicia |20 representing one inch'numerals, from 0 to 24 inches, and intermediate graduation marks at thethirds of eachinch. These numerals are preferably applied to ythe dialin a counterclockwise direction of ascending order. The indicator dialface is also provided with a plurality of indicia representing inchmarks, there being an inner row of numerals from O to 23, followed by anintermediate row from 24 to 47, and an outer row from 48 to 71. Theinner edge of the dial may likewise be provided with marks indicatingfractions of an inch. 'I 'he face of the dial may likewise be providedwith Irow-separating lines |36 guiding the operators feye from one rowof numerals to the next as seen in Figures 2 and 5. These numerals arealso preferably applied in ascending order counterclockwise of the dial.

TheV ring 88 is preferably provided with a pluerality of elongated slots|40 through which pass the bolts Il!) retaining the ring in adjustedposition. The ring is preferably provided with an Iindex' mark le! andthe surface of the drum 42 [adjacent thereto is preferably provided witha plurality of marks representing fractional parts I of an inch. Byloosening the bolts 9!) the ring may be adjusted circumfer'entially ofthe drum to an extent determined by the operator, where- 'upon it may beagain fixed in adjusted position. vThe ring thus provides a plurality ofabutment points at predetermined angular relation to the index point,all of which abutments may be 01T- set simultaneously a desired amount.

Reference to Fig. l will disclose a push-:witch knob |50, which isdesignated as a forward coritrol, and a push-switch knob I5| which isdesignated as a rearward control. Reference to my prior patent abovementioned will make clear the operation of a control circuitcontrollable by similar forward and rearward push buttons for causingthe knees of a sawmill carriage to apare in their rearmost positionthere is room upon 'the carriage for a log of the maximum diameter whichmay be sawed in the particular mill. Since the knees and the indicatordial S3 are intermeral Zero on the indicator dial will be opposite lthis numeral will also underlie the pointer if the knees are arrested ata point two feet, four feet or six feet from their forward position,

The operation of my invention is as follows: The operator holds leverIGI in unclutching position and rotated clockwise to disengag'e'shoe |25from roller |26 and presses the rearward control button |5|`to cause the`knees to recede from the edge of the carriage. He may stop the knees atany suitable point suiiicient to permit the reception of a log upon thecarriage by bringj ing lever IUI to the vertical, whereupon the buttonIumay be pressed to cause the knees to engage' the log. The dog 3| maythereuponbe setto lretain theflog in engagement with-,the knees and theknees are then moved forward so thatsufcient-ofgthe log-will extendbeyond the Saw,v for the-rst'slab out. The indicator dial willvdisclosethe-amount Yof log remaining after the slabI cut hastaken placeand theoperator will always-be apprised of the remaining log Width by glanCIlgat the indicatordial.V For example,A in Fig. V,fthe indicator dialshowsthat a loge-27 or -ltlinches in width, is mounted upon thecarriage.r -While the saw is making the rst cut the-operatorV may pressinwardly to a slight extent uponthe knob lli) and rotate the controldial to an extent suflicient to insure that the Y next cut will takeplace at sucha distance as lo provide a slabof desired thickness, inVFig the `control dial having been rotated tocontrol the creation of Y atwo inch slab. Further inward movement of' the knob ill) While rotatingthe lever as it approaches the second abutment H2 from the index pointwill cause arrest of the controlu dial at the exact point'desired. Fig.5 vdiscloses the abutment ring as having been shifted clockwise anangular distance represent- ,ing one-third of an inch, which is thesetting .desired by the operator as made necessary by a saw thickness ofone-third of an inch.V This l means that upon return of the carriage toposiytion for the next longitudinal cutting vmovement the operator maypress the forward button i5@ to feed the log forward two and one-thirdinches, in other words, an amount suiicient to create a two inch slabwhen cut by a saw having a onethird inch kerf. The control dial andindicator dial now rotate Counterclockwise as a unit and when the arm 16reaches an upright position it will cause opening of the switch l2!) toarrest the knees at exactly the preselected point. lThe indi- Jcatordial will now disclose to the operator that .either or 49 more inches oflog are available .to him to aid him in selecting the next slab Y artthat the same permits of modification in detail and arrangement. Irclaimas my'invention all such modifications as come within the true spiritand scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

comprising a rotatable control dial having indicia thereon forindicating the extent of transverse vmovement of a workpiece such as alog with respect to a working tool such as a saw, a shaft -supportingsaid dial a control lever mounted on said shaft and extendingsubstantially normal `thereto for shifting said control dial angularly.with respect to an index position, a pivot exi tending transversely ofsaid shaft and supporting said lever for pivotal movement toward theplane of said control dial, and a plurality of I abutments surroundingsaid dial and readily engageable by said lever when moved toward saiddial to facilitate arrest of said control dial at a y desired angularposition.

2. A setworks for a sawmill carriage or the like comprising a rotatablecontrol dial having indicia thereon for indicating the extent of trans-vverse movement of a workpiece such as aV log with respect to a workingtool such asa saw, a

shaft supporting said dial, a control lever extending normally to an endof said shaft for j moving said control dial angularly with respect toan index point, a pivot extending transversely i 1. A setworks for asawmill carriage or the like Y of said shaft and supporting said leverfor pivotal movement tothe planeof said control dial, and a pluralityof. abutments surrounding said dial at selected angular distances fromsaidindex point, said abutments beingreadily engageable by said lever tofacilitate arrest of said controlfdialet a desiredangular positionr andcomprising a pluirality of notches having less precipitous sides towardsaid index point than the sides away from said index point in theclockwise direction.

v- 3. AA setworks for a sawmill carriage or the like comprising a mainindicator dialrhaving indicia thereon -adapted to indicate the totalthickness of a log mounted on the sawmill carriage, a control dialreleaseably clutched to said main dial and having indicia thereonadapted to indicate the extent of desired transverse movement of the logwith respect to a working tool such as a Y saw, means to unclutch'saiddials from each other and-to zrotate said controlldial. with. respect tosaid indicator dial -a predetermined angular distance representing thedesired thickness of board to be cut on the next travel ofthe carriagecomprising a lever mounted coaxially with said control dial andpivotally movable from a normal position parallelto the face of saidcontroldial to a clutch disengaging-position inclined toward saidcontrol diaLanarm rotatable with said `con,- trol dial at all times,means actuated upon transverse movement of .the log.V to rotate saidmaindial and thereby causerotation of said control dial when clutched tosaid main dial, means aetuated by said arm for arresting said vdialsafter rotation to the extent predetermined by the setting of saidcontrol dial, .and means for facilitating the setting of` said controldial at any of a plurality of selected positions YcomprisingV aplurality of spaced notches concentrically surroundingthe periphery ofsaid control dial at aradial distance less than the length of said leverand into which said lever mayY move. Y

4. Asetworks for a sawmill carriage or the like comprising a main,annular indicator dial hav.- ing indicia thereon adapted to indicatethetotal thickness of a log mounted on the sawmill carriage, a concentric,inner, control dial release- `ably clutched Yto said main dialand-havingindiciaV thereon adapted to indicate the extent of .Y desiredtransverse movement ofthe log with Vre- Vtate said-control dial withrespect to said indicator dial a predetermined angular distancerepresentingV the desiredthickness of board to be cut on theinext'travelof the carriage comprising a levermounted coaxially with said controldial and pivotally movable from a normal position parallel to the faceof said control dial toY a clutch disengaging position inclined towardsaid control dial, an arm rotatable with said control dial at all times,means actuated upon transv verse movement `ot the log to rotate'saidmain dial and thereby cause rotation of said control Y dial whenclutched to said main dial, and means actuated by said arm for arrestingsaid dial after l rotation to the extent predetermined by the setting ofsaid control dial comprising a plurality of spaced notchesconcentrically surrounding the outer edge of .said main dial at a radialdistance less than the length of said lever and into'which said levermay move. Y.

o 5. In a setworks for a sawmill carriage having work-engaging kneesmovable transversely of the carriage for feeding a log toward the saw insuccessive-increments of movementas maybe variably determined by theoperator between saw cuts, an indicator dial, a control dial coaxialtherewith, clutch means including a spring normally holding said clutchmeans in clutching engagement whereby said dials rotate coextensively,means to release said clutch means comprising a lever, said lever andsaid control dial being interconnected for simultaneous rotation withrespect to an index point, and a ring encircling said dials coaxiallythereof and having a plurality of spaced notches therein engageable bysaid lever when in clutch-releasing position, each of said notcheshaving a less precipitous side toward said index point than its sideaway from the index point in a clockwise direction to facilitateinstantaneous arrest of said lever at a preselected notch when rotatedclockwise in the direction of control setting movement.

6. In a sawmill having a saw, a carriage movable past said saw forfeeding a log lengthwise to be cut into slabs, knees on said carriageengageable with the log, and means for moving said knees transversely ofsaid carriage between successive cuts of the saw; a setworks comprisingan annular indicator dial, means interconnecting said indicator dial andsaid knees to indicate the thickness of log remaining upon saidcarriage, a control dial mounted coaxially within said indicator dial inthe same plane therewith, releaseable clutch means engaging said dialsfor simultaneous rotation upon movement of said knees, a clutch levermovable to clutch-releasing position to disengage said dials, said leverbeing fixed to said control dial for rotation therewith and shiftable ina direction normal to the plane of ing said shaft axially to compresssaid spring means and release said dials.

7. In a sawmill having a saw, a carriage movable past said saw forfeeding a log lengthwise to be cut into parallel-sided sections, kneeson said carriage engageable with the log, and means for moving saidknees transversely of said carriage between successive cuts of the saw;a setworks comprising an annular indicator dial, means interconnectingsaid indicator dial and said knees to indicate the thickness of logremaining upon said carriage, a control dial mounted coaxially withinsaid indicator dial in the same plane therewith, a friction discnormally coupling said dials for simultaneous rotation upon movement ofsaid knees, a lever fixed to said control dial for rotation therewith,said lever being shiftable in a direction normal to the plane of saiddials, a spindle carrying said indicator dial, a shaft mounted coaxiallywithin said spindle and carrying said control dial, means pivotallyfastening Said lever to said shaft, spring means urging said shaft inone direction for clutching engagement of said dials by said frictiondisc, and a fulcrum member engageable by said lever upon movement in aplane normal to the plane of said dials to shift said shaft axially forcompressing said spring means and releasing said dials.

LESTER J. PETERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 793,406 Trout June 27, 1905949,068 Garland Feb. 15, 1910 995,205 Trout i- June 13, 19'11 1,004,837Wright Oct. 3, 1911 1,505,005 Dorman Aug. 12, 1924 1,521,776 Loken Jan.6, 1925 1,532,949 Reid Apr. 7, 1925 1,716,396 Turner et al. June 11,1929 1,786,776 Pelton Dec. 30, 1930 ,2,342,967 Peters Feb. 29, 1944

